Working with U'S' Admissions Officials

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Working with U.S. Admissions Officials

• Eurasia Region Advising Conference
• Moscow, Russia
• August 9-13, 2004

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Working with U.S. Admission Officials

• Presented by
• Patricia R. Pekovsky
• Director, International Admissions
• University of South Florida
• Presentation format graduate admission slides
  created by and used with permission from
• Diana Lopez, Tove Lain Knudsen Maria Paniakova
• Application Process for US Graduate Schools
• European Educational Advising Conference
• Riga, Latvia August 2004

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Outline of Presentation

• Key Factors in Undergraduate Admission
• Undergraduate Admission Documents
• Undergraduate Admission Process

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Outline of Presentation

• Key Factors in Graduate Admissions
• Graduate Admission Documents
• Graduate Admission Process
• Questions/Conclusion

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Goals

• Understanding of Process
• Importance of Networking

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Key Factors in Undergraduate Admission

• Admissions Office makes decision based on
  established criteria
• Exceptions to criteria approved by faculty review
  committee
• Separate admission criteria for FTIC (First Time
  in College) Transfer students
• FTIC minimum requirements include meeting units,
  GPA, test scores

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Key Factors in Undergraduate Admission

• Units are required courses for college bound
  students (e.g. 4 English, 3 Math, 3 Natural
  Sciences, 3 Social Sciences, 2 Foreign Language,
  4 Electives).
• High School Grade Point Average (GPA) is usually
  computed for only above required courses except
  electives. Additional weight may be assigned for
  IB courses.

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Key Factors in Undergraduate Admission

• Leaving Exams may be substituted for units (e.g.
  5 O level passes)
• Transfer credit may be assigned for A Level Exams
• Need for re-mediation courses in English or Math
  courses based on SAT scores
• Fall admission usually more competitive than
  Spring or Summer semesters

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Undergraduate Admission Documents

• Submit complete and legible application and fee
  with consistent name on application, transcripts,
  test scores and letters of recommendation.
• Transcript from high school with courses and
  grades listed or Leaving Exam with O and A level
  grades
• TOEFL and/or SAT Test scores

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Undergraduate Admission Documents

• Unofficial documents may be accepted to make
  admission decision
• Official and final transcripts from granting
  institutions in sealed envelop and official test
  scores from ETS must be received by 2nd or 3rd
  semester of enrollment
• Official confirmation of graduation also required
  if not listed on transcript

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Undergraduate Admission Process

• Admissions Office
• Admits to institution if student meets admission
  criteria
• Upon matriculation, student admitted to college
  offering major
• Evaluates credentials and grades OR requires
  Credentials Evaluation Report from National
  Association of Credential Evaluation Services
  member

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Undergraduate Admission Process

• Admission Office
• Assigns preliminary transfer credit
• Academic advisor will finalize transfer credit
• Some majors have GPA requirements so Admissions
  Office only authorized to admit as Pre-Major
  (e.g. Pre-Education)

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Key Factors in Graduate Admission

• Shared responsibility
• Graduate School
• College
• Graduate Program/Department

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Key Factors in Graduate Admission

• Role of Graduate School
• Ensures basic eligibility
• Monitors receipt of documents
• Evaluates credentials and grades
• Refers application to department
• Maintains standards and policies

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Key Factors in Graduate Admission

• Role of College
• Establish maintain standards across all
  departments
• Role of Program/Department
• Research Funding

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Key Factors in Graduate Admission

• Resolution of differences
• Graduate School Admissions
• College
• Department

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Graduate Application Documents - Application

• Students should be advised to
• Always complete the application carefully
• Always give their name in exactly the same way on
  the application form and on the supporting
  documents
• List the major as stated in the materials
  received from the institution

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Graduate Application Documents - Fee

• If an application fee is required, it should be
  submitted with the completed application
• The application fee is a processing fee, and few
  institutions will process an application without
  it
• The fee should be in US and drawn on a US bank

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Grad Application Documents - Official Academic
Records

• Both in English and in the native language
• Official academic records include
• Certified copies of official degrees or diplomas
• List of courses and grades for all post-secondary
  education
• Records should be sent in a sealed envelope with
  the application alternatively, the issuing
  institution should send the records directly
• Students should never send originals!
• Photocopies should be certified by the university
  or other appropriate official

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Grad Application Documents - Test Scores

• GRE - required by many, but not all
• GMAT - virtually all business programs
• English Proficiency (TOEFL) - all
• At test center, indicate to which schools you
  want the scores sent
• Include photocopy of scores with application, if
  possible

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Grad Application Documents - Letters of
Recommendation

• The best letters comment on academic achievements
  or professional potential
• Some universities provide a special form for the
  letters, in other cases the recommender can use
  his/her own letter-head paper
• As a courtesy, the student should provide the
  referee with a stamped envelope addressed to the
  institution marked Re Application of students
  name when asking for a recommendation
• Applicants should allow plenty of time for the
  referees to write the letter, and follow up to
  ensure that they are sent in time

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Letters of Recommendation -Information to be
included

• How long has the writer known the applicant?
• What is their relationship (teacher/student,
  employer/employee, etc.)?
• A ranking of the student in comparison with his
  or her classmates

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Letters of Recommendation -Points to be discussed

• Intellectual ability
• Knowledge of field
• Work habits
• Motivation to pursue study
• Seriousness of purpose
• Emotional maturity

• Resourcefulness and initiative
• Adaptability to new situations
• Leadership qualities
• Potential for future contribution in the field

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Grad Application Documents - Personal Statement

• The personal statement can mean the difference
  between admission and denial.
• Goal clear, concise, and persuasive
• academic or research interests
• reasons for wanting to pursue graduate study
• reasons for choosing a certain institution
• career goals
• Personal background/extracurricular activities
• Tailor to each institution - answer the questions
  asked!

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Personal Statement -What to avoid

• Do not be overly informal
• Do not include irrelevant information
• Do not write your life story be brief, yet
  complete

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Graduate School/Admission Office Process

• Review application
• Process application fee
• Collect documents
• Evaluate transcripts
• Refer to Grad Program for decision

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Program Review

• Graduate admissions committees
• Members (typically)
• Chair for graduate studies
• Faculty members
• US and international graduate students
• What do they want?
• Outstanding students
• Committed and motivated students
• Diversity of backgrounds

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Program Review

• General admission criteria
• Previous degree(s)
• Outstanding test scores and GPA
• Strong Letters of Recommendation
• Convincing and memorable Statement of Purpose
• Specific admission criteria
• Knowledge/results in the departments fields of
  research
• Experience in/potential for research or teaching
• Difficulty of classes taken as an undergraduate
• Prestige of undergraduate institution

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Graduate School/AdmissionOffice Process

• Obtain college/program recommendation
• Make final decision
• Send notification
• Finalize provisional admission

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Working with US Admission Officials

• Advising Centers and U.S. Institutions

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Working with US Admission Officials

• Questions
• Conclusion